Neck-yoke.



J. MUSSELL.

NECK YOKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1914 1, 1 27,800. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

"ii Z2 10 WITNESSES ATTO R N EY 7H5 NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHG.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

PATENT FTfiE.

JACOB MUSSELL, 0F CALDWELL, IDAHO.

NECK-JOKE.

Application filed may 12,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAcon Museum, a citizen of the United States, residing at Caldwell, in the county of Canyon and State of ldaho,have invented a new and useful Neck-Yoke, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in neck yokes.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of neck yokes and to provide a. simple, practical, and comparatively inexpensive device of strong and durable construction, designed for use on wagons, buggies, and various other vehicles, and equipped with means for connecting the terminals of a neck yoke or spreader bar with the extreme front end of a tongue, whereby the center of the neck yoke or spreader bar is relieved of excessive strain, and the tongue prevented from forming a front projection, liable to catch the lines or the halters or" the draft animals.

A further object of the invention is to provide a neck yoke adapted to avoid accidents by efl ectually preventing the tongue from becoming disconnected from it, and capable of maintaining a firm, taut, and substantially rigid connection between the terminals ofthe neck yoke or spreader bar and the tongue, whereby a vehicle may be more accurately guided with both horses operating to turn the vehicle.

l/Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, size, proportions and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

lln the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a neck yoke constructedin accordance with this invention, and shown applied to a tongue. Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal sectional view of the central portion of the neck yoke, illustrating the construction for vdetachably connecting it to the tongue.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a detail view of the coupling plate. Fig. 5 is a detail sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1%15.

1914.. Serial No. 838,095.

tional View of one end of the spreader or neck yoke bar.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the neck yoke comprises, in its construction, a spreader or neck yoke bar 1 constructed of steel tubing or other suitable matcrial, and provided at the terminals with end caps 2 secured by nuts 3 to the outer threaded terminals 4 of the shanks of longitudinally disposed hooks 5. The longitudinally disposed hooks extend inwardly from the cap plates 2 and engage vertical shanks of transversely disposed hooks 5. The shank of the hook 5 pierces the spreader or neck yoke bar 1 and extends through the bottom thereof, being provided with a straight, vertical bill 6 and a curved connecting portion 7 forming a lower loop for the reception of a ring 8, to which the liarness is secured. The upper end 9 of the shank 5 is threaded for the reception of a nut 10 which engages a top plate 11 clamped to the spreader or neck yoke bar 1 by the said nut 9. The top plate 11 extends inwardly beyond the shank 5 and is provided at its inner portion with a transverse groove 12 for the reception of a relatively large end link 13.

The end links 13 extend around the spreader or neck yoke bar and are connected with the outer terminals of side chains 14, which are linked at their inner ends into eyes or ears 15 of a central coupling link 16. Instead of employing side chains, any other suitable means may be used for connecting the central coupling link with the terminals of the spreader or neck yoke bar. The central coupling link 16, which consists of a disk or plate, is designed to be of the same diameter as the front end of a tongue 17, and it is provided with a central vertical slot 18 of a size to be passed over ahorizontally disposed lateral elongated head 19 of a central. tongue screw 20. .The head 19, which issubstantially oblong, projects beyond the shank of the screw and is spaced from the end of the tongue, forming a headed projection. In placing the central coupling link on the screw, the spreader or neck yoke bar is turned to a vertical position to arrange the slot 18in a horizontal position,-corr.esponding with that of the head 19. The central coupling link or plate may then be passed over the head l9, and after being arranged on the shank of the screw between the head and the end of the tongue, it is parcoupling link on the screw, the spreader, or neck yoke :bar rina'zhorizontal position. The screw is provided at the outer end of its shank with a smooth portion 21 to receive the coupling link or plate, and the latter is provided at its lower edge with an inwardly or rearwardly extending lip 22. Thelip "22, which iscurved to conform to the configuration of "the rounded end of the tongue, receives and supports the latter,'and thereby relieves the tongue screw of strain. The lip or flange 22 is arranged at one side ofthe tongue when the spreader bar is in a per.- pendicular position in placing the coupling link or plate on and removing the same from the tongue screw. While the shank of the tongue screw is threaded, it will be appar-v ent that a smooth :or any other form of shankmay be employed. I

As the central coupling "link or plate is secured directly to the front end of the tonguefthelatter will not project in advance of the side chains and form an obstruction I or projection, liable "to catch in the lines or the 'halter of an animal should attempt to rub its head against the end ofthetongue. Also, this construction enables a .shorter tongue to 'be employed, and thereby lessens the cost of thesame. When the horses are connected to the endsofthe spreader or *neck yoke bar, the side chains are main tained in a firm, taut condition, thereby efiec'tually eliminating side play and enabling the vehicle to be more accurately and easily guided, while utilizing both animals in turning the vehicle. The interlocking connection between the central coupling link .or plate will eii'ectually prevent "the neck yoke from becoming disconnected from the tongue should the traces or whiifletrees break .and accidents from such sources are thereby eliminated.

' What is claimed is: e 1. The combination with a tongue, of a neck yoke including a spreader bar, a central coupling link or plate fitted against the front end or the tongue, means for detachably, interlocking'the coupling plate with the tongue, said coupling linker plate being also provided with supporting means extending beneath and engaging the tongue,

. and connections 'lietweenthe coupling link or plateandthe terminals ofthe spreader .In combination with a tongue having ,.-'a projection extending from the front end thereof, said fixed projection having an: elongated head, a yoke" including "a spreader bar, side chains connected at their outer ends to the spreader bar, a coupling link or plate connecting the. inner ends. of

the chains, said link or plate having a slot 7 of a v size to permit the passage of the head.

of such projection, said link or plate being adapted in the normal working positionof the parts to'be' turned around the projection to arrange its slot out of alinement with thesaid head, whereby when the link or plate is detached from the tongue it is maintained in connection with the spreader bar by the side chains.

3. In combination with a tongue, at neck yoke. including a spreader bar, chains eX-,

tending from the-outer ends of the spreader bar inwardly toward the tongue, a coupling link or plate connected to the inner ends of the chains and detachably applied to the so as to arrange the slot out of alinement 90 with the head, said link or plate being car 1 riedby the chains when the spreader bar is removed from the tongue.

i. A neck yoke of the class described, in-

cluding a spreader bar, a tongue screw having an elongated head'and designed tobe arranged in a projecting position at the front end of a tongue, a central coupling link or member having aslot or openingof a size to permit it to pass over the head of the'screw, said link or member being adapted to beparti'allylrotated on the screw to carry the slot or opening'out of a-linement with the head, and provided at .the'bottom with an inwardly projectinglip or flange arranged toeX'tend beneath and support the lbs tongue, and means for connecting the central coupling link ormember with of the spreader bar.

the ends 5. In combination with a'tongue, a neck yoke including a spreader bar, 'side' chains with end links which encircle the terminals of the spreader bar, harness rings arranged 'the spre'a'der bar and provided with means for holding the said end links, and transextending from I the tongue and-provided verse fastening bolts piercing the plates and i the spreader bar and provided with means,

for confining the harness rings won the spreader bar; I

' 6. In combination with a tongue, a neck yoke including a spreader bar, side chains extending from the tongue and provided with end links which encircle the terminals of the "spreader bar, harness rings also encircling the ends of the spreader bar, plates located at the outerftace of the spreader bar and serving to hold the said end. links in place' on' the spreader bar, and transverse ranged on the spreader bar and engaging a the end links, vertical hooks piercing the ends of the spreader bar and the top plates and securing the latter to the said bar, said hooks having exteriorly arranged portions located at the bottom of the spreader bar and forming loops, and rings linked into the loops to receive the terminal portions of the spreader bar.

8. A neck yoke including a tubular bar, an end cap fitted on the bar, a transverse hook piercing the tubular bar and having an exterior-1y arranged portion forming a loop and adapted to receive a neck yoke ring, and an interiorly arranged longitudinally disposed hook engaging the trans verse hook and having its shank secured to the end cap.

9. In combination with a tongue, a neck yoke including a spreader bar, side connections extending from the tongue and provided with end links receiving the terminal portions of the spreader bar, top plates arranged on the spreader bar and engaging the end links, vertical hooks piercing the ends of the spreader bar and the top plates and securing the latter to the said bar, said hooks having exteriorly arranged portions located at the bottom of the spreader bar and forming loops adapted to receive the neck yoke rings, end caps fitted on the bar, and longitudinally disposed hooks engaging the transverse hooks and secured to and retaining the end caps in place.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' JACOB MUSSELL. Witnesses:

OSCAR A. STENGEL, E. L. SHAW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IPatents,

Washington, D. G. 

